PEABODY — Nestled between two giant sections of Macy's department store at the Northshore Mall, students diligently tap away on keyboards hoping to catch up on some long-neglected algebra work.
Belinda Todisco, 18, says she can finish this algebra course, which has historically been a challenge for the senior, in just two weeks. There are no distractions, no drama, and she can work at her own pace with a teacher there to provide support if needed.
"I can finish every subject in about two weeks," she said, energized. "I've got 27.5 credits and I need 110 to graduate; they said if I stayed in the high school there's no way I'd graduate on time."
She estimates it would take about two years of classroom course work for her to amass the credits needed to get her diploma. At the mall, she thinks, she can do it this year.
Alex Sharkey, a 17-year old junior, was so far behind in her course work at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School that she thought often about giving up.
"I'm low on credits, extremely low," she said while, for the first time, briefly turning her attention away from the equations on the screen. "But Mr. Bedard said I had a good chance (of getting caught up) here."
Mr. Bedard is Seith Bedard, an alumnus and former guidance councilor at Peabody High School, and now the director of the new Peabody Learning Academy. The Academy is a place where students who have struggled in the traditional school setting are given a second chance at success. The school celebrates its grand opening this morning at 10:30 at the Northshore Mall, but it has been open since last week.
The school will not be charged rent and has received $200,000 in funding courtesy of the Indianapolis-based Simon Youth Foundation, a charitable arm of Simon Malls, which is part owner and manager of the Northshore Mall. The rest of the roughly $600,000 cost comes from the city and a charitable donation by an insurance group.
The Peabody Learning Academy is the 24th such alternative school Simon has helped launch in combination with local public school districts — the foundation calls the schools Education Resource Centers. Across the country ERC schools have a 90 percent graduation rate, despite the troubled populations in their classrooms.
"Most kids will tell you there is so much drama in high school; there isn't drama at an ERC, there aren't fights, there isn't bullying," said Rick Markoff, the executive vice president of the Simon Youth Foundation. "Everyone is on the same footing, and everyone is there to help each other out."
"This is an alternative school, but not a typical alternative school," Bedard said.
The students pegged for the school are underachievers, kids who for whatever reason are way behind their peers in credits. The students must sign contracts, pledge to show up everyday, on time, and complete work "with due diligence." If they don't, they're out.
"This is a last-ditch thing for these kids, the last thing we want to do is take kids that will try and take advantage of the situation," Bedard said. "They understand the criteria, what the expectations are and, although it's only the third day, the students have been responsible. I see a lot of kids looking at this as an opportunity."
How it works
The 20 or so students now attending the Academy are split into two classes; in one room they study English and social studies, in the other math and science. Teachers Sarah Murray, English and history, and Raina Siladi, science and math, are both duel certified to maximize efficiency. The lessons are taught using a computer program called NovaNet. Students read through lessons on the screen, and must answer 80 percent correctly on a test to move to the next lesson. If they hit a snag, Murray and Siladi are there to provide individualized attention.
In addition to the programs, the students regularly attend a class called "Life and Study Skills."
"Right now, since it's the first week, we're focusing on doing community activities and getting to know each other," Siladi said. "I'm also preparing an anti-bullying workshop, preparing them to get jobs, preparing them for college."
The students will get valuable lessons on how to write a resume and other practical job skills, as well as help filling out college applications. The Academy will also work with local businesses to help get students jobs or internships in the surrounding area that they can easily do before or after school.
"We're living in a world where a high school diploma does not cut it," Bedard said. "We want to open up these kids to ideas they never thought of. We're trying to get kids to believe the impossible is possible."
Community effort
Before it was a school, the space in the mall was a Kitchen's Etc.
Everything from labor to design to legal support was done for free by volunteers. Labor unions donated time and labor. Cash, gifts and labor donated for the project totaled more than $620,000, Markoff said. A year later, it has been completely transformed.
"That area was like a dungeon when Kitchen's Etc. pulled out," said Ed Sapienza, the Peabody High School principal. "It was just an open space, now it's a school space."
Thanks to Simon, the only cost going forward for the school will be utilities and staff salaries.
"I think this is going to be a great place for the right kind of student. It's a very diverse group there, with a bunch of varying needs," said Sapienza, who noted that the district will also be able to use the space and computers for many other purposes before or after school hours. "The vision for this place goes as far as we want to take it."
For Ema Jusufovic, 18, the Academy is a second chance to right a fledgeling ship — and she knows it.
"Honestly, my freshman and sophomore year I didn't show any effort in any of my classes. I didn't care. There were some days when I thought I didn't want to do this anymore, I should just drop out," she said. "My guidance councilor said I could either do school an extra year, or come here. At first I didn't want to do it, I thought it was ridiculous, then they explained what it was and I said, 'Why not?'
"I'm really far back. I really want to do good at this."
A school in a mall
At first, it seems an odd combination. A school in a mall? But besides the obvious — Simon Youth Foundation is a part of Simon Property Group, which owns malls all over the country — there are actually some good reasons for the location, said Rick Markoff, the executive vice president of the Simon Youth Foundation.
"Stop and think where teens spend time," he said. "What better place for non-traditional school than where kids want to be anyway?"
There are more practical reasons, too.
"So many kids need to make a living first before they can even think about getting an education. Some of these kids are supporting families ... they have to work before or after school, or both, and there are jobs waiting for them at the mall," Markoff said.
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